6/10
LEAGUE: 8th, 46pts (2013-14 - 10th, 38pts)
SCOTTISH CUP: Fifth round
LEAGUE CUP: Quarter-finals
MOST USED FIRST XI: Scott Fox, Stephen O'Donnell, Conrad Balatoni, Frederic Frans, Danny Seaborne, Stuart Bannigan, Abdul Osman, Kallum Higginbotham, Ryan Stevenson, Steven Lawless, Kris Doolan
OVERVIEW: A real mixed bag of a season, characterized by their failure to win two consecutive league games until March (a feat they didn't manage at all in 2013-14). They finished eighth, yet had a positive goal difference. At their best, they could attack from all angles and score all sorts of goals; at their worst, putting two passes together was beyond them. Remarkably, they weren't quite safe from a relegation battle until well into the spring, but there was a bit more consistency in the last couple of months of the season.
HIGH POINTS: When they were good, they were very good...they beat ICT three times (including a 4-0 win in Inverness), had a 5-0 win over Accies, a 4-0 win against Ross County and a 3-0 win versus St. Johnstone.
LOW POINTS: When they were bad, they were horrid...they lost twice to St. Mirren, twice to Ross County and twice to Kilmarnock.
STAR MAN: Flying right-back Stephen O'Donnell had another excellent season...which is likely to have been his last in Thistle colours as he is out of contract. Dundee United are known to be interested, but it seems likely he'll move south. Of those who are staying, midfield enforcer Abdul Osman outmuscled pretty much every opponent all season.
ONE FOR THE FUTURE: Teenage midfielder Declan McDaid forced himself into Alan Archibald's plans with some decent performances as a sub, before injury curtailed his season.
WASTE OF SPACE: Club captain Jordan McMillan disgraced himself by failing a drugs test. The club did the right thing by quietly not playing him for the first few weeks, then officially suspending him in January, and ultimately dismissing him the following month. It was a huge distraction they could have done without though.
THE BOSS: It's fair to say that, in each of Alan Archibald's two seasons in charge, the team have improved - even if only by small amounts. He has found it difficult to get the best out of his players on a regular basis, but to be fair it's hard to get the best out of anyone on that shoddy Firhill surface. It's easy to forget that he's still only 37 and therefore is still learning as a coach, so his record so far is pretty decent. His, and the club's, handling of the off-field issues affecting McMillan and Steven Lawless deserves credit.
PROSPECTS FOR NEXT SEASON: Ideally, Thistle would look to kick on and aim for a top six finish. To do so, though, they will have to improve the squad further on top of replacing the departing Scott Fox, Conrad Balatoni, Lyle Taylor (unless his loan is extended), and probably O'Donnell and Kallum Higginbotham too. That'll be tough, and Archibald's record with signings has been a bit of a mixed bag. And with the teams below them likely to improve, it's as likely that they'll go backwards as forwards.
FIRST TEAMERS DEFINITELY LEAVING: Conrad Balatoni, James Craigen, Ryan Finnie, Scott Fox, Dale Keenan, Ben Richards-Everton, Lyle Taylor (end of loan)
Lawrie Spence (LS) has ranted and spouted his ill-informed opinions on Narey's Toepoker since September 2007. He has a life outside this blog. Honestly.
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